Course cause celebrated

About 85 people turned out in Masterton last week to celebrate 50 years of Outward Bound in New Zealand.

The Outward Bound Trust of New Zealand is part of an international organisation whose aim is to challenge young people in the outdoors and help them reach their full potential.

Organising committee chair Steve Cutler said the Wairarapa event, held at Copthorne Resort Solway Park last Wednesday night, went "very well".

Anakiwa Outward Bound director Rob MacLean, one of three guest speakers, recounted how people benefited from the experience.

Past students also spoke about how the course changed their lives, before the audience watched a 45-minute documentary about well-known New Zealanders who had been taken part at Anakiwa.

They included former All Blacks captain Gary Whetton who said the discipline he learnt doing Outward Bound helped him to become an All Black.

Mr Cutler said there was also a silent auction to fundraise for the trust, that had covered the cost of the event and donations were still being received.

The trust is hoping to establish an annual scholarship to allow a Wairarapa student to attend the 21-day Anakiwa course worth $3750.

He said the celebration would not have been possible without the help of committee members and support from Wairarapa businesses.

"They were absolutely astounding in their support," he said.